Gauge



June 26,1945. J. 1L-moms GAUGE Filed Dee.4 1, 194sl 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMES CII-:oms

ATTORNEYS june 26, E945. J. C. THOMAS 2,379,048

GAUGE Filed Dec. l, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

, JAMES c.THoMAs BY ATTORNEYS Patented June 26, 1945 GAUGE James C. Thomas, Detroit, -Mch., assignor to Thomas Tool & Machine Company, Pontiac, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 1, 1943, Serial No. 512,503

4 Claims.

The invention relates to gauges and refers more particularly to gauges adapted for use by tool makers, mechanics and inspectors.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a gauge which is so constructed that it has a very high degree of accuracy.

The invention has for another object to so construct a gauge that it may Abe readily reconditioned to restore its accuracy.

The invention has for a further object to construct a gauge with hardened work surfaces so ithat the gauge has very long Wearing properies.

With these as well as other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a gauge embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross section similar to Figure 2 showing a modified construction of gauge;

Figure 5 is a plan View of another gauge;

Figure 6 is a plan view of another gauge;

Figure '7 is an end view thereof;

Figure 8 is a cross section on the line 8--8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a plan View of another gauge;

Figure 10 is a cross section on the line I-I of Figure 9.

The gauges embodying the invention are commonly used by tool makers, mechanics and inspectors to check and support parts at definite angles and in definite positions for inspection and machining.

As illustrated in Figure l, the gauge is a square comprising the post I and the plate 2 secured to each other. The post is a solid cylinder having the cylindrical surface 3, the annular end surfaces 4 and the central end surfaces 5 within the annular end surfaces and axially offset relative thereto axially inwardly of the post. The surfaces 3 and 4 are surfaces of revolution which are very accurately formed so that the cylindrical surface has its longitudinal elements parallel to the axis of the cylinder and the annular end surfaces are in planes at right angles to the axis of the cylinder. The cylinder is formed of steel or any alloy that can be hardened and the cylindrical and annular end surfaces are hardened and formed by grinding so that the work surfaces of the post have very long wearing and very accurate or precision properties and also retain their accuracy or precision for all normal use of the gauge. The plate 2 is preferably of greater width than the diameter of the post I and has the opposite surfaces 6 and 'l in parallel planes with the surface 6 in contact with an annular end surface 4 of the post. The plate is also formed of steel or any alloy that can be hardened and the surfaces 6 and 'l are hardened and formed by grinding with the result that these surfaces also have very long wearing and very accurate or precision properties and further retain their accuracy or-precision for all normal use of the gauge.

The post is secured to the plate by means of the dowel pin screw 8 having the dowel pin portions 9 and I0, respectively, engaging the reamed parts II and I2 of bores in the plate and post for positioning the plate and post with an annular end surface of the post in contact with a surface of the plate so that the axis and the cylindrical surface of the post extend at right angles to the plate surface. The dowel pin portion I Il is preferably very slightly smaller in diameter than the dowel pin portion 9 while the reamed part II has a diameter for a sliding t with the dowel pin portion 9 and the reamed part I2 preferably has the same diameter as the reamed part I I. The dowel pin screw also has the head I3 and the threaded stem portion I4, which latter is of smaller diameter than the dowel pin portion I0, the head being located in the recess I5 in the lower portion of the plate 2 and the -"threaded stem portion eng-aging the internally threaded part I6 of the post. The parts I2 land I 6 extend axially of the post.

For the purpose of using a substantial portion Il of the cylindrical side surface 3 of the post I with the surface 'l of the plate and also for the purpose of adequately supporting the post on the plate, the post is secured to an end portion of the plate and the end portion is formed with the arcuate edge I8 and the side edges I 9 converging longitudinally of the plate toward the arcuate edge and connecting tangentially thereinto. The arcuate edge is concentric with the axis of the post and has a radius preferably slightly less than the radius of vthe cylindrical surface of the post so that the portion l1 is olfset relative to the end portion of the plate and the latter cannot interfere. -The radius of the arcuate edge is greater than that of the radially inner edge of the annular end surface 4 of the post so that the annular end surface `contacts throughout 360 with the plate. As shown, the portion |1 is approximately one-half the cylindrical surface of the post. It is apparent that the remaining portion of the cylindrical surface of the post'may be used with the surface 6 of the plate.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 4, the post 20. instead of bciuesolid, isnollow, .it being formed of the hollow eylinderQl 'and the. end plugs 22 permanently secured in the ends of the cylinder as by being welded thereto. These plugs are axially offset inwardly from the ends of the cylinder. The post is preferably a seamless tube formed of steel, or any alloy that can be hardened, and has its cylindrical outer side surface and annular end surfaces'hardened and ground so that they have a long wearing life and a very high degree of accuracy. The post.

gitudinal flutes 25 and the arcuate longitudinal' surface elements 26,'the latter being hardened and formed by grinding and having the vsame radii from the axis of the post. Y It will be noted that the post has two longitudinal surface elements 2,6 which are in` thel longitudinal median plane of the plete 2l and that. 'one of these eX- tends preferably slightly beyond the adjacent end of the plate. It will also be noted that the post has two other longitudinal surface elements 25 which extend preferably` slightly beyond the con-- verging sides 28 of the beveled end portion of the plate and that each of these longitudinal surface elements is in line with another longitudinal surface element of the post longitudinally of the plate. The construction is such that the post has in effect a-hexagonal :cross section and also has peripherally spacedprecision forrned longitudinal surface elements on its external surface.

It is apparent that the post may be formed with other cross sections and also have an external side surface withl hardened accurately ground longitudinally extending arcuate surface elements formed in the same manner as the post of Figure 5. i

In the modification .illustrated in Figures 6, 7

vand 8, the gauge is a sinesquare comprising the posts 2,9, the plate 30 and thesine plate 3|. The posts ZS'are formed in the same manner as the post I of Figures 1, 2 and 3 and theI posts 23 are secured to the plate 3Q in the saine manner as the post is secured to the plate 2. The posts 2S are secured to the plate 30 with their axes an exact predetermined distance apart. The plate 3l! is rectangular and is formed with 4ground. hardened surfaces in parallel planes formed in the same manner as the parallel surfaces of the plate .2. 'The sine plate 3| hasthe end'pxoitions, 32

and the intermediate projecting portion 33.l The surfaces 34 and 35 of the end portions and projecting portion are hardened and accurately ground to extend parallel to the surface 36 of the sine plate. The surfaces 31 at the ends of the projecting portion are also hardened and accurately ground and extend at right angles to the surfaces 34. The sine plate is secured to the posts by the screws 38 and 39 which are threaded radially into the posts and hold the surfaces 34 and I3l against the posts and mei @in the P0565 at. a.

definite distance apart agreeing exactly with the spacing of the posts in the plate 30 and with their axes parallel to the face 36 of the sine plate. The surface 36 of the sine plate 3| extends at right angles to the upper surface of the plate 3|). Both the plates 30 and 3| are preferably formed with a number of drilled and tapped holes extending at right angles tov their parallel faces for receiving vsuitable securing means used for attaching work or other gauge parts thereto. The posts 29 and also the plates 30 and 3| are formed of steel or any alloy which may be hardened and the work surfaces are all hardened and ground so that the sine square has very long wearing and very accurate'or precision properties and retains its accuracy or precision for all normal use.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate another modification of gauge which is designed primarily for use as a master checking gauge and may be used with squares and `sine squares, for examp1e,to check angles and also make projection checking. 40 are the posts and 4| is the surface plate to which the posts are secured. The posts 40 are formed in the same manner as the post 20 of Fig-- ure 4 and the posts are secured with an annular end surface of each against the surface 42 of the surface plate in the same manner as the post I is secured to the plate 2. formed to take care vof the tension created by securing the posts to the surface plate and, as shown in the present instance, the surface plate has on its lower side the transverse reinforcing ribs 43 and 44 and itis also provided with the bosses 45 whicharecentrally provided in their lower surfaces with recesses for receiving the heads of the securing dowely pin screws. The posts 40 are provided with the transverse drilled and tapped holes 46 for receiving the screws 41 used in securing the plates 48 to the posts, these .plates having 'the surfaces 49 hardened and ground parallel tothe surfaces 50 which are clamped against the posts. As a result, the surfaces 49 extend definitely at right angles to the surface 42 of the surface plate.

From the above description, it will be seen thatA I have provided 'an improved gauge having'hardened Work surfaces which are lvery accurately ground. Also that I have provided an improved means for securing the parts of the gauge together providing for readily reconditioning the parts to restore their accuracy in case of darnage or abuse.

What I claim as my invention is:

1 n gauge comprising a' post having an annular end surface of revolution at right angles to the axis of said post and a side surface of revolution parallel to the axis of said post, a plate having opposite surfaces in parallel planes and having ayn'end portion with an arcuate edge of less radius than that of said post, and means for securing said post to said endl portionwith having a' portion withr an arcuate edge of less radius' than that of said'post,V and means for securing ysaid post and plate together with said The surface plate is the axis of said post, a platev having opposite surfaces in parallel planes and end surface of said post resting on one of said l surfaces of said plate, with said side surface of revolution and arcuate edge concentric, and with a substantial portion of said side surface of revolution of said post offset beyond said arcuate edge.

3. A gauge comprising a post having an end surface at right angles to the axis of said post and a side surface formed with longitudinal surface elements parallel to the axis of said post, a plate having a width greater than the diameter of said post and formed With parallel surfaces, said plate also having an end portion of reduced width, and means for securing said post to said end portion with said end surface of said post resting on one of the surfaces of said plate and with part of said side surface of said post offset beyond said end portion extending through a substantial angle.

4. A gauge 'comprising a plate having a surface in one plane, a post formed of a hollow cylinder and an end plug, said cylinder having a ground cylindrical surface of revolution and a ground annular end surface 0f revolution, said plug being spaced longitudinally inwardly -of said cylinder from said end surface, and means engaging said plate and plug for securing said post to said plate with said end surface resting on said plate surface and with a substantial portion of said cylindrical surface offset beyond said plate.v

- JAMES C. THOMAS. 

